What yoga mat and accessories shall I buy?
Do I need yoga equipment?
Yes! If you are looking to have a regular yoga practice and especially if you are practicing from home. I would highly recommend investing in these three things:
1: A good quality yoga mat
2: Two blocks
3: A bolster
Yoga mats
Buying a yoga mat? It’s a minefield I know!! Here’s a list of helpful tips and links to make sure you buy good quality yoga mat and props.
Standard yoga mat | £26.95
I would recommend buying what is called a classic yoga mat rather than a sticky yoga mat as I have found they have more grip and last longer. You can get these here : ruthwhiteyoga.com
Medium priced mats | £45 – £80
If you are practicing yoga regularly I think it’s worth investing in a medium priced mat because they will last, be better for the environment and act as a nice little incentive to do more yoga. My go to mats are Manduka or Kurma mats Both are great for grip, environmentally friendly and come in a variety of thickness and length.
Manduka and Kurma Mats
What’s the difference between them?
Manduka mats have a bigger range of colours and patterns if you fancy something unique BUT Kurma mats are cheaper and have the same quality grip if not a little better!
High end priced mats | £65 - £100
Yogi Bare & Liforme
Both Yoga Bare and Liforme are great mats, non slip and eco friendly. Why so much though? I personally think you are paying for the look/brand which of course is absolutely fine! They are great looking and well made mats!
Where to purchase?
You can go direct to the brands website to look at their full range of mats (see below).
Kurma Mats - https://kurma.eu/product/kurma-grip/
Manduka https://eu.manduka.com.
Yogi Bare - www.yogi-bare.co.uk
Liforme www.liforme.com
ekotexyoga.co.uk and yogastudio.co.uk
Or you may be able to get them cheaper at ekotexyoga.co.uk , yogastudio.co.uk or yogamatters.com.
What thickness shall I buy?
Standard is usually 4mm - 5mm
Thick is 6mm : Great for the knees but too HEAVY to carry a long way.
Travel Yoga Mat – usually 1.5mm. Really thin but good for traveling with.
TOP TOP TIP: Quality mats without the price tag
Both ekotexyoga and yogastudios do Kurma and Manduka factory seconds/almost perfect mats. Theses are mats that differ in appearance and dimensions from manufacturing specification such as length, thickness, colour or may have surface imperfections. Students have fedback to me that they are great!
Do I need blocks and a bolster?
Yes! Props are good for both beginners and experienced yogis. They make yoga poses more accessible for those who may be tighter but also act as great supports to experience deeper stretches.
Yoga block/bricks
Get two foam or cork blocks/bricks. In my experience the cork and wooden blocks last longer.
Yoga straps
Also helpful for getting into deeper postures.
Bolsters
Usually used for yin or restorative yoga but also great to sit on for meditation. Make sure you go for the buckwheat filled bolsters they are the best!
Where do I purchase props?
Visit ekotexyoga.co.uk for bolsters, bricks and straps. They are a small independent business based in edinburgh. They have a great ethos and amazing customer service!
Or you can get them off amazon - These cork blocks on Amazon are a great size and weight: Cork Yoga Blocks
Still confused about what mat to buy?
If you want a good quality mat, with grip, that is going to last, at a really reaonable price and are not fussed about colour or pattern. I would go for the Kurma Lite 4.5mm from ekotex.co.uk.
I hope this was helpful!
Tina x
PS Let me know how you get on and if you have any further feedback on any yoga products!